Folding trolleys and the like

ABSTRACT

A folding trolley comprises two pivotally interconnected Ushaped frame members and two trays pivotally mounted between the side portions of one frame member. In an opened condition of the trolley the frame members are mutually inclined and the trays supported one above the other on crossbars provided on the other frame member. The upper crossbar is straight, but the lower crossbar has cranked end portions. The length of the side portions of the frame members and position of the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members are so chosen that when the trolley is folded the upper tray is folded downwards over the upper crossbar and the lower tray is folded upwards by the sliding engagement of the lower crossbar. In the folded condition the cranked ends of the lower crossbar extend in a direction at an angle to the lower tray and engages in a recess between the tray and a lip of a stop provided on the tray.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert G. Heal Twickenham, England [2]] Appl. No. 825,248

[22] Filed May 16, 1969 [4S] Patented Aug. 31, 1971 [73} Assignee Staples & Company Limited London, England [32] Priority May 17, 1968 [33] Great Britain [54] FOLDING TROLLEYS AND THE LIKE 3,215,096 11/1965 Holtz 108/111 FOREIGN PATENTS 921,452 3/1963 Great Britain 108/111 903,002 8/1962 Great Britain 108/111 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Glenn O. Finch Attorney-Roberts, Cushman & Grover ABSTRACT: A folding trolley comprises two pivotally interconnected U-shaped frame members and two trays pivotally mounted between the side portions of one frame member. in an opened condition of the trolley the frame members are mutually inclined and the trays supported one above the other on crossbars provided on the other frame member. The upper crossbar is straight, but the lower crossbar has cranked end portions. The length of the side portions of the frame members and position of the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members are so chosen that when the trolley is folded the upper tray is folded downwardsvover the upper crossbar and the lower tray is folded upwards by the sliding engagement of the lower crossbar. In the folded condition the cranked ends of the lower crossbar extend in a direction at an angle to the lower tray and engages in a recess between the tray and a lip of a stop provided on the tray.

PMENIEU M1831 [an 3.602.160

' SHEEI 2 OF 3 FOLDING TROLLEYS AND THE LIKE The present invention relates to folding trolleys and the like, including folding tables, of the type which provide in their normal open condition two surfaces one above the other.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a folding trolley or table of this type that can be folded easily and compactly.

According to the present invention there is provided a folding trolley or the like comprising two pivotally interconnected U-shaped frame members and two trays so arranged that in a normal opened condition of the trolley the trays are supported between the two frame members one above and the other below the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members which in this condition are mutually inclined and are provided with stop means restraining them from opening further and in a folded condition the two frame members are nested one within the other with the lower tray folded upwards and the upper tray folded downwards, wherein both trays are pivoted at or near one of their ends to the side portions of one frame member and slidably engage over upper and lower supporting crossmembers respectively provided between the side portions of the other frame member, the pivot of the upper tray being, in the folded condition, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the upper crossmember and the pivot of the lower tray being, in the folded condition, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the lower crossmember so that, on folding the trolley, the upper tray is able to swing down while sliding over the upper crossmember and the lower tray is caused to swing up by the sliding engagement therewith of the lower crossmember.

It will be appreciated that in the case of a trolley, as distinct from that of a table, casters or the like are provided enabling the trolley to be moved.

The stop means is conveniently constituted by two stops located near the free ends of the undersides of the upper and lower trays respectively and cooperating with the said crossmembers to limit their sliding engagement with the trays whereby the frame members are prevented from opening beyond their opened condition.

Means may be provided to lock the lower tray in position when the trolley is in the folded condition. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this means for locking the lower tray is constituted by a lipped stop located on the bottom of the lower tray near the pivoted end and, in the folded condition of the trolley, so cooperating with a locking portion of the lower supporting means that the locking portion is held in a recess between the surface of the tray and the lip of the stop.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric projection of a folding trolley,

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the trolley shown in FIG. 1 taken in a plane parallel to the longer sides of the trays, and

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the trolley shown in FIG. 1 and 2 in a folded condition.

The folding trolley shown in the drawings comprises two tubular metal frames 11 and 12.

The frame 11 has two parallel side portions 13 and 14 interconnected by a handle portion 15. A rectangular tray 16 is mounted between the two side portions 13 and 14 by means of a metal strap bracket 17 which is pivotally connected to the side portions 13 and 14 by screws 18 and 19 respectively at e.g. 4 in. from the handle 15. The tray 16 is secured to the strap bracket 17 by screws 21. A further tray 22 is mounted between the side portions 13 and 14 at e.g. 28 in. from the handle 15 in a similar manner by means of a second metal strap bracket 23 and screws 24 and 25.

The frame 12 is U-shaped with two straight side portions 26 and 27 and a curved portion 28. Two spaced apart crossbars 29 and 31 interconnect the side portions 26 and 27.

The frame 11 is pivotally mounted inside the frame 12 by pins 32 and 33 that pass through the side portions 13 and 26, and 14 and 27 respectively.

In the opened condition of the trolley, the tray 16 is supported above the tray 22 by the crossbar 29 which engages in a recess between the tray 16 and a lip 35 on a stop 34. The tray 22 is similarly supported by the crossbar 31 which engages between the tray 22 and a hip on a stop 37.

The trolley is folded by pivoting the frames 11 and 12 in opposite directions about the pins 32 and 33 by moving the portions 15 and 28 towards each other. The relative length of the side portions 13 and 14 to the straight portions 26 and 27, and the position of the pins 32 and 33 are so chosen that during the folding of the trolley the crossbar 29 moves towards the strap bracket 17 and the tray swings down towards the pins 32 and 33 at the same time the crossbar 31 moves towards the strap bracket 23 (as shown by the arrow A in FIG. 2) and the tray 22 is folded towards the pins 32 and 33, (as shown by the arrow A in FIG. 2).

The lengths in this embodiment of the invention are e.g. 12 in. from the screws 18 and 19 to the pins 32 and 33, 12 in. from the pins 32 and 33 to the screws 24 and 25, 10-34 in. from the crossbar 29 to the pins 32 and 33 and 9-% in. from the pins 32 and 33 to the junctions between the ends of the crossbar 31 and the side portions 26 and 27 of the frame 12.

The trolley is shown in the folded condition in FIG. 3. The crossbar 29 is a straight bar between the straight portions 26 and 27, but the crossbar 31 includes a locking portion 38 and cranked ends 39. In the opened condition of the trolley the locking portion 38 and the cranked ends 39 are in substantially the same horizontal plane which is parallel to the plane occupied by the tray 22. In the folded condition, the cranked ends 39 extend in a direction at an angle to the surface of the tray 22. The locking portion 38 is forward of the plane of the side portions 26 and 27 and is in the plane of the side portions 13 and 14 and engages in a recess between a lip 41 of a stop 42 and the tray 22 and holds the tray in its folded condition. The tray is prevented from folding back down by abutment of the locking portion 38 against the underside of the tray 22 and from folding further by abutment of the other side of the locking portion 38 against the lip 41 of the stop 42.

The side portions 13 and 14 and the straight portions 26 and 27 include end portions that are bent as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to form upright legs when the trolley is in the open condition. To these upright legs are attached casters 43.

In an alternative form of trolley (not shown in the drawings) the stops 42, 37 and 34 are replaced by pairs of stops in similar longitudinal positions on the trays 16 and 22, but with one of each pair at either edge of the tray.

1 claim:

1. A folding trolley comprising first and second U-shaped frame members, said frame members being pivotally interconnected,

stop means for limiting the pivoted opening of said frame members, upper and lower trays each pivoted in the vicinity of one of its ends to the side portions of said first frame member, said upper and lower trays slideably engaging said upper and lower supporting crossmembers respectively during folding of said trolley,

said lower supporting crossmember being cranked at each end to provide a center portion,

said center portion lying out of the plane of said second frame member,

the pivot of said upper tray being, in the folded condition of the trolley, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the upper crossmember and the pivot of the lower tray being in the folded condition, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the lower crossmember,

whereby the trolley can be folded from a normal opened condition in which said trays are supported between said frame members one above and the other below the axis of pivotal interconnection of said frame members to a normal closed condition in which said frame members are nested one within the other with said lower tray folded upwards and said upper tray folded downwards, said upper tray being able, on folding to swing down while sliding over said upper crossmember and said lower tray being caused to swing up by the sliding engagement therewith of said lower crossmember said center position engaging said lower tray in the closed condition forward of the plane of said second frame member.

2. A folding trolley as claimed in claim 1 wherein the distance between said center portion -of said lower crossmember and the axis of pivotal interconnection of said frame members is less than the distance between the line joining the points of connection of the ends of said lower crossmember with said-frame member and the axis of pivotal interconnection of said frame members.

3. A folding trolley as claimed in claim ll including members dependent from the undersides of said trays, said trays being pivoted to said frame member by said dependent members,

whereby the axes of pivotal connection of the. trays are displaced with respect to the undersides of said trays.

4. A folding trolley as claimed in claim 6,

wherein said stops have lips and said crossmembers engage in recesses between said trays and said lips of said stop.

5. A folding trolley comprising two U-shaped frame members, said frame members being pivotally interconnected,

stop means for limiting the pivoted opening of said frame members, upper and lower trays pivoted in the vicinity of one of their ends to the side portions of one of said frame members,

upper and lower supporting crossmembers connected between the side portions of the other of said frame members,

said upper and lower trays slideably engaging said upper and lower supporting crossmembers respectively,

the pivot of said upper tray being, in the folded condition of the trolley, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the upper crossmember and the pivot of the lower tray being in the folded condition, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the lower crossmember,

whereby the trolley can be folded from a normal opened condition in which said trays are supported between said frame members one above and the other below the axis of pivotal interconnection of said frame members to a normal closed condition in which said frame members are nested one within the other with said lower tray folded upwards and said upper tray folded downwards, said upper tray being able, on folding to swing down while sliding over said upper crossmember and said lower tray being caused to swing up by the sliding engagement therewith of said lower crossmember,

a stop mounted on the underside of said lower tray,

a lip on said stop, said lower crossmember being arranged to engage in a recess between said lower tray and said lip of said stop, when trolley is in said folded condition,

whereby said lower tray is held in its folded condition.

6. A folding trolley comprising two U-shaped frame members, said frame members being pivotally interconnected,

stop means for limiting the pivoted opening of said frame members,

upper and lower trays pivoted in the vicinity of one of their ends to the side portions of one of said frame members,

upper and lower supporting crossmembers connected between the side portions of the other of said frame members,

said upper and lower trays slideably engaging said upper and lower supporting crossmembers respectively, the pivot of said upper tray being, in the folded condition of the trolley, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the upper crossmember and the pivot of the lower tray being in the folded condition, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the lower crossmember,

whereby the trolley can be folded from a normal opened condition in which said trays are supported between said frame members one above and the other below the axis of pivotal interconnection of said frame members to a normal closed condition in which said frame members are nested one within the other with said lower tray folded upwards and said upper tray folded downwards, said upper tray being able, on folding to swing down while sliding over said upper crossmember and said lower tray being caused to swing up by the sliding engagement therewith of said lower crossmember,

wherein said stop means comprises two stops mounted on the underside of said upper and lower tray respectively near their free ends,

said crossmembers being arranged to engage against said stops in the opened condition,

whereby the frame members are prevented from opening beyond their opened condition. 

1. A folding trolley comprising first and second U-shaped frame members, said frame members being pivotally interconnected, stop means for limiting the pivoted opening of said frame members, upper and lower trays each pivoted in the vicinity of one of its ends to the side portions of said first frame member, said upper and lower trays slideably engaging said upper and lower supporting crossmembers respectively during folding of said trolley, said lower supporting crossmember being cranked at each end to provide a center portion, said center portion lying out of the plane of said second frame member, the pivot of said upper tray being, in the folded condition of the trolley, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the upper crossmember and the pivot of the lower tray being in the folded condition, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the lower crossmember, whereby the trolley can be folded from a normal opened condition in which said trays are supported between said frame members one above and the other below the axis of pivotal interconnection of said frame members to a normal closed condition in which said frame members are nested one within the other with said lower tray folded upwards and said upper tray folded downwards, said upper tray being able, on folding to swing down while sliding over said upper crossmember and said lower tray being caused to swing up by the sliding engagement therewith of said lower crossmember said center position engaging said lower tray in the closed condition forward of the plane of said second frame member.
 2. A folding trolley as claimed in claim 1 wherein the distance between said center portion of said lower crossmember and the axis of pivotal interconnection of said frame members is less than the distance between the line joining the points of connection of the ends of said lower crossmember with said frame member and the axis of pivotal interconnection of said frame members.
 3. A folding trolley as claimed in claim 1 including members dependent from the undersides of said trays, said trays being pivoted to said frame member by said dependent members, whereby the axes of pivotal connection of the trays are displaced with respect to the undersides of said trays.
 4. A folding trolley as claimed in claim 6, wherein said stops have lips and said crossmembers engage in recesses between said trays and said lips of said stop.
 5. A folding trolley comprising two U-shaped frame members, said frame members being pivotally interconnected, stop means for limiting the pivoted opening of said frame members, upper and lower trays pivoted in the vicinity of one of their ends to the side portions of one of said frame members, upper and lower supporting crossmembers connected between the side portions of the other of said frame members, said upper and lower trays slideably engaging said upper and lower supporting crossmembers respectively, the pivot of said upper tray being, in the folded condition of the trolley, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the upper crossmember and the pivot of the lower tray being in the folded condition, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the lower crossmember, whereby the trolley can be folded from a normal opened condition in which said trays are supported between said frame members one above and the other below the axis of pivotal interconnection of said frame members to a normal closed condition in which said frame members are nested one within the other with said lower tray folded upwards and said upper tray folded downwards, said upper tray being able, on folding to swing down while sliding over said upper crossmember and said lower tray being caused to swing up by the sliding engagement therewith of said lower crossmember, a stop mounted on the underside of said lower tray, a lip on said stop, said lower crossmember being arranged to engage in a recess between said lower tray and said lip of said stop, when trolley is in said folded condition, whereby said lower tray is held in its folded condition.
 6. A folding trolley comprising two U-shaped frame members, said frame members being pivotally interconnected, stop means for limiting the pivoted opening of said frame members, upper and lower trays pivoted in the vicinity of one of their ends to the side portions of one of said frame members, upper and lower supporting crossmembers connected between the side portions of the other of said frame members, said upper and lower trays slideably engaging said upper and lower supporting crossmembers respectively, the pivot of said upper tray being, in the folded condition of the trolley, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the upper crossmember and the pivot of the lower tray being in the folded condition, further from the axis of pivotal interconnection of the frame members than is the engaging surface of the lower crossmember, whereby the trolley can be folded from a normal opened condition in which said trays are supported between said frame members one above and the other below the axis of pivotal interconnection of said frame members to a normal closed condition in which said frame members are nested one within the other with said lower tray folded upwards and said upper tray folded downwards, said upper tray being able, on folding to swing down while sliding over said upper crossmember and said lower tray being caused to swing up by the sliding engagement therewith of said lower crossmember, wherein said stop means comprises two stops mounted on the underside of said upper and lower tray respectively near their free ends, said crossmembers being arranged to engage against said stops in the opened condition, whereby the frame members are prevented from opening beyond their opened condition. 